Approval For Sarstedt's New Facility

Approval has been given for a major new base for a laboratory and medical equipment supplier in Leicestershire.

Wilson Bowden Developments has won permission from Blaby District Council for the land at Optimus Point which will be occupied by Sarstedt.

The distribution centre will be located on 5.3 acres of land off Kirby Road and Ratby Lane, Glenfield.

The council's planning committee made a final decision at a meeting on Thursday 27 June.

Sarstedt is currently based in Beaumont Leys but needs a bigger site in order to expand. It currently turns over about £20m a year.

The new building will be 64,012 sq ft and have 45 car parking spaces. It will also support 35 full-time jobs.

A Council document published ahead of the meeting said: "The location of the proposed development is close to major highway infrastructure and other commercial developments and is removed from neighbouring residents and designated heritage assets. Extensive areas of new landscaping are to be provided.

"There are no overriding environmental constraints to preclude this proposed sustainable development, which would deliver significant and permanent economic benefits to the district of Blaby and where necessary, existing mitigation measures have ensured that any impacts are mimimised.

"No objections have been received from statutory consultees having particular regard to implications for local ecology, flood risk and highway safety."